The San Diego City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a proclamation calling for a study of the feasibility of installing suicide barriers along the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge.
The action mirrored one taken recently by the Coronado City Council, Councilman Todd Gloria said.
According to his office, around 300 people have ended their lives by jumping off the bridge since it opened 47 years ago.
Gloria said the city and county of San Francisco are installing nets on the Golden Gate Bridge to reduce the number of suicides by people leaping into San Francisco Bay.
"Something similar may be warranted here," Gloria said. "We know this has real impacts on people's and families' lives."
He said he hopes the council can follow up in the fiscal year that starts July 1 to make sure the feasibility study is completed.
According to his office, the study could be conducted by either Caltrans or by contract with the San Diego Association of Governments.
In other action today, the council directed the City Attorney's Office to prepare two potential ballot measures for the November general election.
One would consolidate City Charter sections on how the City Council interacts with mayoral staff, including clarification on when council committees can summon staff to hearings. The other would raise the capacity of
the city to build affordable housing by 10,000 to 38,680.
According to a city report, the state Constitution requires city voters to approve a maximum number of housing units in the city for the development, construction or acquisition of low-rent housing. An increase in the authorized number of units would potentially allow for additional inexpensive housing for low-income seniors, families and persons with disabilities.
